How to Save Money This Christmas Season

The holiday season is upon us, and everyone is looking for ways to save money this Christmas! We have the best tips to help you stay under budget.

How to Save Money This Christmas Season

Can you believe it’s already the end of September? While we still have Halloween and Thanksgiving to go, the Christmas season is right around the corner.

With all the holiday parties and events to attend and gifts to buy, Christmas can really deal a huge blow to your bank account.

Don’t get a case of the holiday blues: we’ve devised a list of the top ways to save money during this Christmas season, so you don’t need to fear those January bills!

Start Saving Early

Planning ahead really is crucial to saving money during the festive season. Start putting some money away into savings every week and to give yourself a bit of a “holiday fund” you can use to purchase gifts, party supplies, food, and anything else you may need.

Say you put $20 away every week between now and Thanksgiving. You’ll have an addition $160 to put towards holiday necessities and gifts. You can put away more or less, depending on what your budget permits. This is one of the simplest ways to prepare and save money this Christmas season!

Make Your List Early

Don’t get stressed out by last-minute holiday shopping – start your gift list early and put some thought into it. Think in detail about the person you’re buying for, what they love, what they want, and what they need.

All too often we buy an overpriced (but convenient!) gift as a last resort when with some more thought we could have found the perfect, thoughtful, gift at a much better price.

Host a Potluck

There’s nothing like having the whole family over for the holidays, but it can get super expensive if you’re the host! Try hosting a potluck, where everyone can bring a dish of their choice and alleviate some of the financial burden. Plus, you’ll get to try some delicious new recipes!

Coupon

Couponing is always an essential money-saving trick, but it can really help you around the holidays. Check for coupons for some holiday food essentials (stuffing, sauce, cookies, etc) and use them at your local grocery store.

Try DIY

Do it yourself gifts might sound like an elementary school project, but there are plenty of homemade gifts you can make for adults that range from body scrubs to home decor pieces. These gifts are budget-friendly and also super thoughtful and sentimental. Pinterest is a gold mine for DIY gifts and crafts you can give as great gifts.

Don’t Pay Full Price

While we believe you should never pay full price all year long, this is especially true during Christmas. Try your best to pick up everything on your gift list when it’s on sale.

Year after year, more and more stores start hosting some great sales before Black Friday, so you can score some great deals before the busiest shopping day of the year.

If you don’t want to brave the crowds on Black Friday, you can shop online from the comfort of your own home on Cyber Monday.

Shop Around

Say your kid really wants 1 specific toy this year, don’t just buy it at the first store you visit. Do your research online and see where you can get any item the cheapest. Be sure to compare the stores again on Black Friday and Cyber Monday to make sure you get the best possible deal.

Set Some Ground Rules

Do you ever find yourself buying gifts for some friends or family members, only because you know they’ve bought you a gift? And then that happens again the next Christmas? You can stop that cycle this year before it begins!

Have an honest conversation with friends and family about gifts this year and suggest alternatives. Remember the reason for the season and suggest some alternatives to gifts, like having a cookie swap or a Christmas craft night, where you can still enjoy each other’s company without needing to buy unnecessary gifts.

Remember What Counts

This is the “common sense” rule of saving during the holidays. While we would all love to spoil our loved ones with amazing and luxurious gifts, you need to be realistic about what you can afford and remember that it’s the thought behind the gift that counts.

Are you looking for ideas for having a smooth Christmas Morning? Look here!

Were these tips on how to save money this Christmas season helpful? Share it with your friends on Pinterest!

Brittany is the Content Manager at Freebies.com, a site that believes you should never have to pay full price for anything. Brittany and her team post freebies, coupons, discounts, and great money-saving tips every single day.